Return envelope



United States Patent 3,167,243 y RETURN ENVELOPE Casey Wiley, Teaneck, N.J., assignor to Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Neenah, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 266,346 6 Claims. (Cl. 229--73) This invention relates to a dual envelope of unitary construction. More particularly it relates to a business promotional envelope having a detachable extension flap and a business reply envelope integral therewith.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a dual multi-purpose envelope from a one-piece blank folded and sealed to form two individual envelopes unitarily joined by a detachable extension member.

A further object is to provide a dual envelope of unitary construction comprising a large primary envelope having a secondary envelope hingedly attached thereto and adapted to fit within the primary envelope.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dual envelope having two separate compartments plus an intermediate member, all of which may be readily separated without destroying the function of each.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to persons skilled in the art, upon examination of the accompanying drawing and description, without departure from the concepts herein taught as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which like parts are identified by the same reference numerals:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a unitary blank from which a dual envelope may be formed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a dual envelope formed from the blank shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is another plan view of the same envelope showing the preferred cooperative arrangement of the elements of the dual envelope when ready for use.

In modern merchandising there is a need for compact utilitarian packaging, which satisfactorily and efficiently performs multi-purpose functions. Premium offers, sales followups, warranty notices and the like are examples of services which can be performed more efiiciently, if such material is made a part of the original wrapping.

The improved dual envelope of this invention is designed to meet these needs and may be manufactured at comparatively low cost and with a minimum use of material.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawing, the dual envelope may be formed from a unitary die-cut blank of paper, lightweight cardboard, or other flexible material. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the blank is provided with a main body portion substantially rectangular in configuration and divided by fold line into a front wall 11 and a back wall 12, which is adapted to fold in overlying relationship to front wall 11. Front wall 11 is provided at its lateral edges with side flaps 13 and 14 to which a suitable adhesive may be applied when forming the envelope. These side flaps are adapted to be folded over back wall 12, when the latter is in its assembled position overlying front wall 11 as shown in FIG. 2, and secured thereto by an adhesive or other suitable means.

Back wall 12 may also be provided with an optional sealing flap 28 having an adhesive material 27 applied thereto. Other sealing means may also be used.

The upper edge of front wall 11 has attached thereto by a line of weakness 15 an extension member 16. EX-

tension member 16 is of less width than the upper edge of front wall 11 and is attached medially thereof. Extension member 16 has a secondary body portion attached thereto by a second line of weakness 17. The secondary body portion is substantially rectangular in configuration and is also divided into a front panel 18 and a back panel 19 by a fold line 21, with the front panel having an auxiliary sealing flap 20 integral therewith, provided with a suitable activatable adhesive 22 for subsequent sealing. The secondary body portion is also provided with suitable adhesive areas 23 and 24 on its lateral edges adapted for sealing said edges when back panel 19 is folded to overlie front panel 18 forming the pocket of a secondary envelope 25 as shown in FIG. 2.

The secondary envelope 25 and extension member 16 may then be folded on line of weakness 15 to fit into primary envelope 26 as shown in FIG. 3.

Primary envelope 26, secondary envelope 25, and extension member 16 may be printed on both sides with promotional material, premium offers, warranties, return addresses, or the like. The walls of both envelopes may also be provided with die-cut windows, either patched or open, for the usual purposes.

The particular embodiment shown in the drawing is especially designed for use as a phonograph record jacket, but it is apparent that the size andshape of both envelopes can be readily modified to fit other uses. For example, by adding optional flap 28, the primary envelope may also be suitably sealed and used as a mailer.

Extension member 16 may be suitably imprinted with indicia embodying promotional material, as noted above, and is readily detachable along line of weakness 15 after it has served its original informational purpose.

Secondary envelope 25 may be used as a business reply envelope or for storing auxiliary material related to the contents of primary envelope 26. When the extension member and secondary envelope are detached from the primary envelope along line of weakness 17, the primary envelope is suitable for continued use by itself as a storage jacket with or without a sealing flap, or alternately may be used as a mailer if provided with optional sealing flap 28.

It is understood that the size and shape of the envelopes are not restricted to those shown in the drawings. However, the dimensions of the primary envelope are related in width and depth to the dimension of the extension member plus the secondary envelope. The latter dimensions should be of a size which conveniently fits into the primary envelope without difficulty, if such folded arrangement is desired.

While the drawings show side flaps 13 and 14 as being lateral extensions of front wall 11, it is apparent that such flaps alternately may extend from the edges of back wall 12 and still fall within the scope of this invention.

The simplicity of construction of the unitary blank makes it possible for the finished dual envelope to be fabricated on automatic envelope machinery.

It is also understood that the secondary envelope itself could be of conventional envelope construction with the back wall being comprised of the usual triangular shaped flaps suitably folded over the front wall and adhesively joined in a known manner.

The form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken only as the preferred embodiment. Various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dual envelope of unitary construction comprising a primary envelope closed on three sides and open on a fourth side, an extension member attached to said open side by a line of weakness, said member being substantially shorter in dimension than said open side at the common line of attachment and being positioned medisaid envelopes separated.

ally of said open side, said-extension member having afurther extension element comprising-a secondaryen:

-"detacha blysecured centrally of said openlside, said exvelope of a size substantiallysmaller than said primary enyelope;; said secondary jenvel'ope being closed onthree sides and openf'on, a fourth side, said fourth sidebeing tension member being of less width than said open side, a secondary envelope smaller in size than, said primary,

' envelope, said secondary envelope being closed on three provided with; a sealing flap; said sealinggflap' ;being' atta'ched to said: member by a second line; of weakness, r

'. on the ed ge'v of said membervoppositefrom said primary A u ny o eso un arytcons r t o s pii in 1 a large primary envelope, at smaller 'seoondary envelope,

and an intermediate mem ber detachably.connecting said I envelopes, said primary' envelope and saidsecondary envelope being closed on three sides, and open on a fourth side, said secondary envelope having a sealing s fiap on its 7,

open "side, said'member being of less Widt h, than-thefpri l mary envelope and of the approximate Wldih'Ofthe sec ondary envelope, saidmernber lbeing pos'itioned medially of the open side of the primary envelopeand detachably,

secured thereto and to the-sealing fiap on the openfsideof I said secondary envelope by lines, of weakness-whereby 3. dunenvgib ejoeuhitary construction comprising and said member may be indiyidilally lar interior-dimension of said primary envelope, whereby said extensronmembe'r and secondary envelope maybe sidesand haVingQa-seafin g nap; on a fourth side, said sealing flaprdetachably secured to said extension member envelope,'f;the dimension takenperpendicularly from a po-iriton the line of attachment of said member to said primary envelopejtoa paint on: the, outer closed side of said I secondary envelope being p less than the perpendicufolded in and 'enclosed byisaidprimary envelope.

5 A unitary blank for forming ,a' dualpur'pose envelope comprising a main. body portion, a secondary body portion, and acornmunicating member therebetween, said ,7 main body being substantiallyrectangular and having a icentr alf'fo ld linedividing said body into a frohtwall'sec- 7 a large primary envelope, ajsmaller seeehaar eaveid e; and an intermediate member'deta'chably connectinglsaid envelopes, sa'i'd' primary envelope comprising arm twan with side flaps anda back Wall folded in overlying felts tionship to term With s'aid' s'id'ej flaps an, envelope. pocket ol'osed on three sides, the op'erl side of said primary en;

velope pester having a foldable sealing flaple'xtending from saidmckwan, said se'eonda'ry nva p'e comp ising a front panel and a'back' panel' folded in ovi'lyin'gfrela tion'ship and eated along the'panel edges to 'forfrfi'aii envelopepocket having an extension flap integral witlff said front panel, said extension flap being deta'chablyjoined to "said intermediate member byfa line of weak; mess, the edge of saidm'ember opposite front said line of weakness being detaohably joined to the operr sidefof tion Sand a ba1 jwa1rsetibn vyher'eby said sections may be folded in "overlyingrelationship,;-the, lateral edges of said front wait ee i'qn being provided with sealing flaps, said.;c ommunicati'ng, member being of less-Width than said mainbody being attachedr nedially of the topiedge of said nonr airseetian bya lineof eakness, said secondarybody portion forming an extension of said communicating memberandf bein'giattache'd thereto by a second line ofjwefakriess, said secondarybod'y'portion being of less Width" than saidjmain body portion and of substantially the, same Width as s'aid 'communicatin g member, said secondary body portion being substantially rectangular anddivided into a front panel and back panel by a 1 central {01d line whereby said panels'rriay be folded in overlying relationship, the lfron'tpa'nel' of said; secondary body 'po'rtion'be'ing additionally provided with" an aux-r ilia'ry sealing flap interposed between said' reotan'g iular the front wallof said primary envelope" by a second line of weakness, said member being of less wid t h thari jsaid f primary envelope and of the approximate Widthoffsaid secondary envelope; said member being "p o'sitioned{r'n e{' dially of the open side of the front Wall or saidprimary 1 envelope.

4. .A dual; envelope 0f" unitary construction: compris-fl ing a large primary envelopeclosed on three, sides and open on a fourth side, a rectangular e'xtensionlmember the back wall section 

1. A DUAL ENVELOPE OF UNITARY CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A PRIMARY ENVELOPE CLOSED ON THREE SIDES AND OPEN ON A FOURTH SIDE, AN EXTENSION MEMBER ATTACHED TO SAID OPEN SIDE BY A LINE OF WEAKNESS, SAID MEMBER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SHORTER IN DIMENSION THAN SAID OPEN SIDE AT THE COMMON LINE OF ATTACHMENT AND BEING POSITIONED MEDIALLY OF SAID OPEN SIDE, SAID EXTENSION MEMBER HAVING A FURTHER EXTENSION ELEMENT COMPRISING A SECONDARY ENVELOPE OF A SIZE SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN SAID PRIMARY ENVELOPE, SAID SECONDARY ENVELOPE BEING CLOSED ON THREE SIDES AND OPEN ON A FOURTH SIDE, SAID FOURTH SIDE BEING PROVIDED WITH A SEALING FLAP, SAID SEALING FLAP BEING ATTACHED TO SAID MEMBER BY A SECOND LINE OF WEAKNESS. 